The Hindu : Row over Euro MPs' pay, perks

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Jan 29, 2004

International

International

Row over Euro MPs' pay, perks

By Batuk Gathani

BRUSSELS, JAN. 28. A controversy is raging over the salaries and perks of the Members of the European Parliament (MEP), who are often accused of being on a financial "gravy train''. Ministers here last night blocked the package to reform the salaries and expenses of the MEPs.

The initiative was taken by the German Chancellor, Gerhard Schroeder, supported by France and Austria.

According to informed observers, the reforms cannot be legalised until after elections to Parliament in June.

The decision is a serious blow to reformers in the European Parliament and there is widespread concern that the "gravy train'' image has seriously damaged the profile of the parliamentarians, whose work is often rated as mediocre. This image remains particularly dented in northern Europe.

There is wide disparity in the salaries earned by various MEPs, whose salaries and perks are based on the average pay of the members in their national Parliaments.

The Italian MEPs, for example, earn euro 10,975 per month while the incoming Latvian parliamentarians would be lucky to earn euro 350.

The Austrian, British and German MEPs earn an average euro 7000 plus per month but this does not include the lavish travel and secretarial assistance and accommodation perks.

For example, lot of MEPs make substantial amount of money by cashing in on their generous travel perks — they can travel economy class and claim business class ticket fare. They are allowed unlimited travel facilities to their home constituencies.

The European Parliament sits in Brussels and Strasbourg — to keep the French happy — and hence incurs double establishment expenses.

The MEPs are provided modest office facilities but are paid generous allowances to employ "research assistants''.

It is an open secret that they often employ wives or girl friends as "research assistants''.

Such allowances often amount to nearly 50 per cent of their salary.

It is argued that the proposed reforms may put an end to the misuse.

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